Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro have become an integral part of our lives, providing access to a huge number of apps and entertainment. However, excessive fascination with gadgets often leads to users losing track of time spent on social networks or games. To control this in the Android operating system, as well as in the shell of MIUI, a special tool is built in to track and limit activity.
Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro owners often find it difficult to spot this feature right away, as Xiaomi developers sometimes hide it in non-obvious menu sections or rename it for convenience of localization. Understanding how the digital well-being system works will help you to balance the virtual and real world. In this article, we will discuss in detail the ways of accessing statistics and methods of managing screen time.
It's worth noting that managing your digital balance isn't just a limitation, it's a way to better understand your habits. Analyzing data on which apps are consuming your attention most can be the first step to improving productivity. Let's look at where those settings are hiding on your device.
The main way through system settings
The most direct way to get to the desired settings on Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro is to use the standard menu of operating system settings. MIUI interface, although it has its own features, retains the basic logic of Android, so the search should begin with the main configuration screen.
To do this, go to Settings and scroll down to Digital Well-Being and Parental Control, where all the basic statistics are collected. If you don't see this item right away, try searching by settings by entering the phrase "screen time" or "digital well-being."
⚠️ Note: On some versions of the firmware MIUI This section may be referred to simply as “Digital Well-being” or may be hidden within the “Special Opportunities” subsection if the standard path does not work.
Once you log in, you'll see a pie chart showing your total device usage time for the day, and if you click on the center of the chart or the list of apps below, you'll get a detailed breakdown of each application you run, which allows you to pinpoint which programs are the main absorbers of your time.
It is important to understand that the system starts collecting data only from the moment a function is activated or statistics are reset. If you have just updated your firmware or reset your settings, the schedule may be empty in the first hours of use.
Use of a widget on the desktop
For those who prefer to have visual control on hand without diving deep into the menu, there is a faster method: on the Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro, you can display the statistics widget directly to the home screen or lock screen, which eliminates the need to go through several menu levels each time.
To add a widget, follow the following steps:
- 📱 Press and hold your finger on an empty area of your desktop.
- 🛠️ In the lower menu, select the option Widgets or "Add widgets".
- 🔍 In the list, find the Digital Wellbeing app (sometimes called “Wellbeing” or “Wellbeing").
- ➕ Select your favorite widget design and drag it to the desktop.
Now your screen will display your current usage time or activity schedule, and if you click on the widget, you'll instantly go into detailed statistics, which is especially convenient for quickly checking your limits throughout the day.
However, it is worth remembering that widgets can consume additional battery power, albeit slightly. If you notice an accelerated discharge, you may want to remove the widget from the home screen and use the standard menu through Settings.
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To save battery life on the Redmi 9 Pro, use widgets with minimal data updates or static time displays.
Setting up restrictions and timers
Just knowing statistics is not enough, it is important to be able to manage it. In the digital well-being section of the Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro, you can set timers for applications. It is a powerful tool that forcibly restricts access to selected programs after the limit is exhausted.
To set up, go to App Timers (or "Use Limits"), and here you will see a list of all installed programs, select the desired application, such as a social network or game, and set the desired time, such as 30 minutes a day.
When the time is up, the app icon will turn grey and only be launched by removing the restriction, creating a useful barrier to consider whether it should be used further.
Also available is a "Sleep Mode" or "Do Not Disturb" feature, which can be linked to a schedule, during which time notifications are delayed, and the screen can go into black and white mode, reducing the attractiveness of the interface.
☑️ Setting up timers
Parental Control and Family Link
If your goal is to limit screen time to your child, standard MIUI features may not be enough, and for full control, you should use a bundle with Google Family Link, which allows you to remotely control the Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro device from your parent’s phone.
To adjust, you need:
- 👨👩👧 Install Family Link on your phone and your child’s phone.
- 🔗 Create or link a child’s Google account to a family group.
- 📱 Set up rules for use directly in the child’s profile.
Through parental controls, you can set not only general limits, but also "close-off times" when the phone is completely locked, except for emergency calls, and you can also use location tracking and content filtering in the browser.
⚠️ Attention: For proper parental control on Redmi 9 Pro, you must allow the Family Link app to work in the background and turn off energy savings in battery settings.
Without such additional configuration, the MIUI system can aggressively kill the control application process and the restrictions will no longer apply at the right time.
What to do if the child has passed the restriction?
Comparison of time control methods
Understanding these differences will help you choose the best strategy for your Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro use case. Below is a table comparing the main methods.
| Method | Difficulty setting up | Efficiency | Impact on the battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in Digital Wellbeing | Low. | Medium | Minimum |
| Desktop widgets | Low. | Low (informative) | Low. |
| Google Family Link | Tall. | Tall. | Average. |
| Third-party annexes | Medium | Depends on the app. | High. |
As you can see from the table, MIUI and Android are the most balanced solution for most users, requiring no additional software installation and are deeply integrated into the system.
However, for tight control, especially with regard to children, third-party solutions from Google or specialized apps are essential.Standard timers are easy to ignore, unless there is an external lock.
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The built-in MIUI tools are ideal for self-control, and Google Family Link is essential for managing children.
Problems and solutions
Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro users may experience a situation where statistics are not updated or timers do not work, often due to aggressive battery optimization, characteristic of the MIUI shell.
To fix this, go to Settings → Applications → All Apps. Find Digital Wellbeing. Go to Activity Control or Battery and select No Limits mode, which will allow the system to collect data seamlessly.
Also make sure that the device has the current time and date. synchronizing time over the network is critical for the correct operation of timers and reports on the days of the week.
If the problem persists, try clearing the cache of the Digital Well-being app.This won't delete your settings, but it can correct errors in displaying statistics.
Additional MIUI capabilities for concentration
In addition to classic timekeeping, the Xiaomi Redmi 9 Pro has other tools that indirectly affect screen time, such as the “Second Space” mode allows you to create an isolated environment without entertainment applications, designed only for work.
When you switch to this mode, you don't physically see the icons of games and social media, which reduces the desire to distract yourself, and it's a psychological technique that works better than simple notifications.
Also worth noting is the Focus feature, which can be built into updated versions of MIUI, which allows you to create scripts where only selected applications are available, for example, the Job profile will leave only the email client and messengers available.